Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Lilac`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Lilac`, characterized by its upright and spreading growth habit; freely branching plant habit; numerous large inflorescences with light purple ray florets that fade to lighter purple with development; and erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofBrachycome plant, botanically known as Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid andreferred to by the cultivar name `Jumbo Misty Lilac`.

The new Brachycome was discovered by the Inventor in a group of seedlingprogeny from a cross of unidentified selections of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid in an outdoor area in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new Brachycome by terminal cuttings taken ina controlled environment in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia, has shownthat the unique features of this new Brachycome are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Brachycome has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of `Jumbo Misty Lilac` anddistinguish `Jumbo Misty Lilac` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and spreading growth habit.

2. Freely branching plant habit.

3. Numerous large inflorescences with light purple ray florets that fadeto lighter purple with development.

4. Erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Brachycome, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographon the first sheet comprises a view from above of a typical potted plantof `Jumbo Misty Lilac`. The photograph on the second sheet comprises aclose-up view of typical inflorescences of `Jumbo Misty Lilac`. Floretand foliage colors in the photographs may appear different from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Victoria, Australia, under outdoor conditionswith day temperatures ranging from 12 to 40° C., night temperaturesranging from 6 to 25° C., and light levels ranging from 5,000 to 9,000footcandles. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification:

Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid cultivar `Jumbo Misty Lilac`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid.

Female or seed parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid.

Propagation:

Type.--By cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.--Summer: About 10 to 20 days attemperatures of 25° C. Winter: About 15 to 30 days at temperatures of20° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and spreading, flat to rounded herbaceousplant with erect peduncles. Suitable for 15 to 20-cm containers. Toproduce a 15-cm finished flowering plant from rooted cuttings, 10 to 14weeks are required depending on temperature and light level.

Plant height.--About 25 to 45 cm from soil level to top ofinflorescences.

Plant diameter or spread.--About 30 to 50 cm.

Branching.--Freely branching, numerous lateral branches develop afterremoval (pinching) of the terminal apex.

Growth rate/vigor.--Moderate.

Stem description.--Lateral branch length: About 1.8 to 9.2 cm. Lateralbranch diameter: About 1 to 2 mm. Internode length: About 0.2 to 1.8 cm.Texture: Young, slightly pubescent; older, glabrous. Color: 146A to146B.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Alternate, single. Quantity: About 14to 27 per lateral branch. Shape: Narrowly spatulate in outline, lobedand sometimes toothed. Apex: Narrowly lobed with each segment usuallyhaving two to three teeth. Base: Sessile, somewhat clasping. Length:About 1.9 to 4.4 cm. Width: About 0.5 to 1.6 cm. Margin: Three toseven-lobed, often lacking teeth. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:Young leaves, upper surface: 137A. Young leaves, lower surface: 137B.Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 136B; venation, 147C. Fullyexpanded leaves, lower surface: 136B; venation, 147C.

Flowering description:

Inflorescence.--Single daisy-type composite inflorescence form. Floretsarranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences last on the plantfor about 6 to 12 days and about 7 to 10 days as a fresh cut flower.Self-cleaning.

Natural flowering season.--Natural flowering season is spring to fall;flowering continuous during this period.

Response time.--About 5 to 8 weeks.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About one to four per lateral branch withnumerous inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 2.8 to 3.9 cm.

Inflorescence depth (height).--About 1 cm.

Disc diameter.--About 1.5 to 1.8 cm.

Inflorescence aspect.--Flat.

Rate of inflorescence opening.--About 6 to 10 days.

Fragrance.--Very faint, honey-like.

Inflorescence buds.--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 7 mm. Diameter:About 6 to 7 mm. Color: 191B to 193B.

Ray florets.--Quantity: About 25 to 36 florets per inflorescencearranged in one to two rows. Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Blunt,rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat. Length: About1.1 to 1.7 cm. Width: About 2 to 3 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, thin.Color: When opening, upper surface: 80A to 80B. When opening, lowersurface: 80B. Mature, upper surface: 76C to 76D. Mature, lower surface:76A to 76D.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular with five lobes. Length: About 3 mm.Width: About 1 mm. Texture: Sparse glandular hairs. Color: Immature:154A. Mature: 7A. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: Numerous.

Peduncle.--Length: About 8.9 to 16.5 cm. Strength: Initially somewhatflexible becoming fairy rigid; erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:137A.

Involucral bracts.--Arrangement: Imbricate. Quantity: About 13 to 21 perinflorescence. Shape: Broadly oblong. Apex: Fringed. Margin: Entire tofaintly fringed. Texture: Somewhat fleshy. Color: 138A with brownishapex, 182B. Mature, upper surface: 76C to 76D. Mature, lower surface:76A to 76D.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular with five lobes. Length: About 3 mm.Width: About 1 mm. Texture: Sparse glandular hairs. Color: Immature:154A. Mature: 7A. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: Numerous.

Peduncle.--Length: About 8.9 to 16.5 cm. Strength: Initially somewhatflexible becoming fairy rigid; erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:137A.

Involucral bracts.--Arrangement: Imbricate. Quantity: About 13 to 21 perinflorescence. Shape: Broadly oblong. Apex: Fringed. Margin: Entire tofaintly fringed. Texture: Somewhat fleshy. Color: 138A with brownishapex, 182B.

Androecium.--Only present on disc florets. Stamen number: Five per discfloret. Anther shape: Oblong to linear. Anther color: 163C. Amount ofpollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 13C.

Gynoecium.--Pistil number: One per floret. Stigma shape: Bilobate. Stylelength: About 3 mm. Style color: 151A. Stigma color: 151A.

Disease resistance: May be susceptible to Botrytis and fungal leaf spotdiseases.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named`Jumbo Misty Lilac`, as illustrated and described.